Betway Handicap

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 3m 38.23s

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(7)

Sir Chauvelin²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: B A Curtis| T: J S Goldie| OR: 101| C| D

9/2

Finished 6L third to Withhold in the 2018 Northumberland Plate; ran respectably (fourth) in a Fast-Track Qualifier here prior to Christmas before plundering the valuable Hogmaneigh Hurdle at Musselburgh (1m7½f, gd/sft) on New Year's Day.

Form: 6/67034-

(6)

Carnwennan²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-12| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 94| CD

9/4

Progressive; enjoyed his day in the limelight when an emphatic 3½L winner of the Northumberland Vase in June 2019; highly tried since (0-4); worn down late by the winning machine All Yours at Kempton (2m) latest; key player.

Form: 11058-2

(5)

Cosmelli^v⁷^{(ex 4)}

Age: 7| Weight: 9-7| J: George Rooke⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Gay Kelleway| OR: 85| CD

13/2

A flag-bearer for Gay Kelleway; 33-1 winner of the 2018 Northumberland Vase and fifth of 19 to Who Dares Wins in the 2019 Northumberland Plate; returned to form when scoring at Chelmsford (1m6f) last week; carries 4lb extra.

Form: 609-321

(1)

Ship Of The Fen^p²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-3| J: P Mulrennan| T: Ian Williams| OR: 85

33/1

Three wins on turf (one each in 2017, 2018 and 2019); proved his stamina by scoring on seasonal reappearance at Salisbury (1m6f, good to firm) last May; has been campaigned over hurdles more latterly; others make more appeal.

Form: 12843-6

(2)

Billy Ray⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Cam Hardie| T: S England| OR: 83

66/1

Runner-up to Withhold in the Cl 2 Marsh Cup at Newbury in July 2019; left Mick Channon for 22,000gns at the Newmarket Autumn Sale; more miss than hit for Sam England so far (mainly over hurdles); the handicapper is cutting him some slack.

Form: 529008-

(4)

Smart Champion^h³³

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Callum Shepherd| T: D M Simcock| OR: 83

15/2

Catterick maiden winner (1m6f, good to firm) for Simon Crisford; has developed into a fair staying handicapper since joining David Simcock for 23,000gns in July 2019 - runner-up in the Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket; 0-5 on the AW (Polytrack).

Form: 4/426-43

(3)

Padleyourowncanoe²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 8-7| J: S De Sousa| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 73| D

7/4

140-rated hurdler/chaser; has exploited a more favourable Flat mark by winning at Lingfield (2m, Cl 6) and Southwell (2m2½f, Cl 4) in recent weeks; 9lb higher (sits just outside of the handicap proper) in a much more competitive race.

Form: 5U22/11

Forecasts

Padleyourowncanoe (7/4), Carnwennan (9/4), Sir Chauvelin (9/2), Cosmelli (13/2), Smart Champion (15/2), Ship Of The Fen (33/1), Billy Ray (66/1)

Colin Tizzard saddles his first ever Flat runner at Newcastle (5-16; 31% jumps) courtesy of the hat-trick seeking Padleyourowncanoe. The useful hurdler/chaser hacked up at Southwell (2m2½f) three weeks ago, albeit this is a much sterner test of his credentials from outside of the handicap proper. This race features a whole host of Newcastle regulars including the 2018 Northumberland Plate third Sir Chauvelin and the last two winners of the prestigious Northumberland Vase (Cosmelli and CARNWENNAN). In an intriguing contest, it is the Charlie Fellowes-trained runner who gets the nod after displaying renewed verve in defeat at Kempton (2m) earlier this month.